First, it may be understood as a symptom of increased supply. It stands to reason that as universities have increased, so has the number of graduates and so has the competition for places on graduate schemes. Second, the figure may be understood as a consequence of volatile demand. The difference in graduate employment between before the economic downturn and as it lies at the moment is profound. At the start of the recession, the unemployment rate for graduates stood at ten per cent. The fact that this figure has nearly doubled at the same time that employers have had to withstand greater pressures on their businesses suggests that demand for graduates, as with all workers, has decreased.
But the reason behind increased graduate employment is unlikely to be of huge interest to those affected, barring those who read economics as part of their degree. Of far greater concern is not so much why competition in the graduate jobs market has increased but how best to deal with the difficult circumstances in which graduates find themselves. Whilst this article does not pretend to provide a guaranteed formula for securing a place on a graduate scheme, it is hoped that the following paragraphs provide some guidance for graduate job applicants.
1. Obtain the best degree you can
Naturally, this piece of advice is only relevant to undergraduates. Graduates must make the best of the degree they were awarded. For those who are entering the last year of their course, it should be emphasised that whilst time should be made for job applications and vacation schemes, this should not be to the detriment of their degree. In many graduate schemes, failing to achieve a 2:1 will mean that your application will not even be considered. This may seem harsh but from an employer’s point of view a cull based on degree classification is an easy way of cutting down the great piles of applications that it receives. Equally, a first-class degree represents a good way of discriminating your application from many others. But if you should fare less well than expected, place less emphasis on your degree result and stress other qualities, examples of which are detailed in the paragraphs below.
2. Make them remember you
This is a point lost on many applicants to graduate schemes. The chances are that if you have secured a solid degree from a respected university, so have many of your fellow applicants. Thus, it is very important to include in your application something that allows your piece of paper to stand out. Have you played sport to a high level? Have you had an interesting summer job? Were you awarded a research grant during the course of your degree? An employer is far more likely to award a place on its graduate scheme to the applicant who played tennis for her county or the applicant who took several lead roles in his university dramatics society, simply by virtue of being remembered. Most people have at least one facet or experience that is notable – make sure that you communicate yours.
3. Demonstrate experience in the ‘real world’
But whilst discussion of leisure pursuits may lead an employer to believe that you are a well-rounded individual who would be easy to work alongside, it is crucial to not lose sight of the fact that for most private employers the most important quality of their employees is the ability to make them money. So whilst a commendation of the prospective employer’s community work demonstrates that an applicant has done his research on the company, more lines should be dedicated to showing how he or she could make the company money or, in the case of a public employer, how he or she could deliver services in the most efficient way. Experience in the ‘real world’ is the best way to evidence this, particularly experience of positions of responsibility. Applicants should not be worried that the work that they engaged in on their summer job seems trivial relative to the work that they would be doing on the graduate scheme. A barman who responded to a gap in the market by creating a new cocktail has demonstrated business acumen.
4. Explain why your skills are applicable
A really good applicant will not only give examples of organisational ability, leadership qualities and diligence; he or she will also give reasons to why these skills are particularly applicable to the graduate scheme. This is best illustrated by example. A graduate is applying for a position within a law firm. He feels that he has strong communication skills, with his ability to talk to various people in varied circumstances illustrated by his voluntary junior football coaching, his time in the school debating society and his summer job as a salesman. Rather than leaving his application at that point, he should state that his skill to converse with many different types of people is particularly important for the graduate scheme he is applying for as the firm cover many different types of work.
5. Do not take rejections to heart
Finally, when applying for graduate schemes, you should always be aware that competition is fierce and that rejections are an inevitable part of life for most people. The statistics at the start of this article showed just how competitive the search for graduate jobs is. Follow the advice given here and elsewhere and hope for the best, but realise that circumstance means that not everyone get secure their perfect position straight away.
